NATO member Poland, which borders Russia, signed an agreement with the United States to strengthen its army.
In his speech at the signing ceremony for the M1A1 Abrams tanks, Polish Defense Minister and Deputy Prime Minister Mariusz Blaszczak said: “We are strengthening the Polish army, we are strengthening the armored fist of the army. This is a strong element to strongly support the army and deter the aggressor. The first batch delivered to the Polish army this year. will be done,” he said.
Thanking the US for its military cooperation, Defense Minister Blaszczak said that the cooperation in question would serve Poland and NATO’s eastern flank. Stating that their cooperation with the USA is long-term, Blaszczak said that the Patriot missiles have reached Poland and they are waiting for the HIMARS rocket system.
THEY HAVE GRANTED 240 TANKS TO UKRAINE
Poland donated 240 modified T-72 tanks to Ukraine at the end of last April, and decided to meet the deficit in its inventory by ordering tanks from the USA.
The US State Department delivered 116 used M1A1 Abrams tanks, 12 M88A2 Hercules armored recovery vehicles, 8 M1074 joint attack bridges, 6 M577 command post vehicles, 26 HMMWV high-mobility multi-purpose vehicles, 26 units, and 26 used M1A1 Abrams tanks. JLTV had approved the sale of light armored vehicles, tens of thousands of tank ammunition and machine guns.
WORTH BILLIONS OF DOLLARS
While it is stated that the cost of the said sale will be approximately 3.75 billion dollars, the 1.4 billion dollar agreement signed today constitutes the first phase of the arms and ammunition to be purchased from the USA. Deliveries of 116 Abrams tanks are expected to begin this year and be completed by 2024.
Poland ordered 250 M1A2 SEPv3 Abrams main battle tanks worth $4.75 billion from the US last July. (UAV)